We pretty much got going with the sun this morning with the forlorn hope that an early start would help us avoid some of the heavier traffic. It did not seem to.

Our route was simple, back along, Ataturk Havalimani Cadessi, the airport road to the junction with Kennedy. Then follow Kennedy to the parking lot. Last night through our research we discovered that the parking lot is right next to a large tower and radar antenna so that helped with the navigation.


The parking lot, a small lot right next to the water, is well known among the European Caravan/RV/Motorhome fraternity, it is even in some of the caravan guides such as CamperContact.com

Advice to other travelers; if you are aiming for this parking lot make sure you get onto Kennedy a long way our from your destination. Our problems yesterday arose because our GPS chose a route that tried to cut across the city.

This is clearly a well know and well used overnight place in Istanbul for Caravans as the sign with prices even has a category for caravans. However the facilities are limited, one grubby asian style toilet, a small dock for some decrepit looking small boats, and a constant stream of locals coming to park and buy tea/coffe from a kiosk made from an abandoned van. But still one can forgive or live with much of that as it is literally a 1 km walk to the Blue Mosque.

Now we are really in Istanbul and the jouney is really over - that is except for Greece, Italy, Germany, The Netherlands and all Nina's other plans. I think I should only say that the Vladivostok to Istanbul Chapter is over and we now start on the next, as yet unnamed chapter of our travels.

the weather was really crappy, rain, wind and cold. Apart from a walk up to the Blue Mosque area late in the afternoon we huddled in the camper to stay warm.